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Two second-half goals saw the Reds run out 2-0 winners at the City Ground

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by Paul Taylor

21:05, 10 Sep 2018

Nottingham Forest's Virgil Gomis celebrates making it 2-0 during the Professional Development League match at The City Ground on Monday 10th September 2018.

Goals from Toby Edser and Virgil Gomis helped Nottingham Forest Under-23s claim what was eventually a comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff City Under-23s, on a night when they might have won by a bigger margin at the City Ground.

Jimmy Gilligan’s side had to be patient in their efforts to break down the Premier League side’s resolve, with the scores level at half-time.

But, with Aitor Karanka looking on from the stands, Forest were rewarded for their craft and toil, as a well-taken goal from Edser and an emphatic finish from Gomis sealed victory for the Reds.

Nottingham Forest first team Manager Aitor Karanka watches on with his staff during the Professional Development League match at The City Ground on Monday 10th September 2018.

It was a youthful Forest side, with Stephen Henderson the only player with any serious first-team experience in the ranks of the home side.

But, while he had a bit of tidying up to do at the back, it was the opposition keeper, Warren Burwood, who had the most work to do in the early stages.

Cardiff’s team was also relatively young, with Ibrahim Meite the main senior presence, as continued his recovery from injury.

And it was Forest who made the brighter start, with Gomis beating a couple of players with a driving run that took him into the box, only to see his progress halted at the vital moment, when he was finally closed down.

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When Jayden Richardson bombarded down the right side, he found the space to deliver a tantalising cross towards the near post, where Victor Sodeinde was arriving. But the quality of his finish could not match the timing off his run, with the Forest man failing to properly connect and seeing his shot bounce wide.

Jake Taylor had a pop from outside the box and made a crisp connection with his drive, forcing an alert and strong save from Burwood, who needed to get a strong hand to the ball, to steer it over.

When Meite’s forceful charge into the box found a gap in the Forest defence, he saw a shot blocked. But the ball rebounded kindly for Dan Martin, who kept his composure to hit an instant shot, which Henderson saved well.

Nottingham Forest's Jayden Richardson & Cardiff CityÕs Jac Davies during the Professional Development League match at The City Ground on Monday 10th September 2018.

The keeper had looked slightly tentative when dealing with the ball at his feet in the box on a couple of occasions, but there was no hesitation from the former Charlton man as he reacted quickly to make a big save.

Forest managed to open up a similar gap in the Cardiff defence midway through the first half, with Gomis seeing his shot well blocked, by some good defending, at the expense of a corner. When that was delivered into the box, Edser had lost his marker at the far post, but was left with his head in his hands, after seeing his powerful header bounce away off the outside of the post.

After Laurence Wooton had sent a curling, dipping shot just wide for Cardiff, Forest pushed again, with Jordan Gabriel sending a header only a foot or so over the bar, from amid a melee of players, six yards from goal.

When Edser delivered a free kick into the box it was Gabriel attacking it again but, while he ended up taking a painful blow, it was a flick off a Cardiff head that ended up guiding the ball just the wrong side of the post.

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Gabriel, along with Taylor, was taken off at half time, perhaps as a result of that clash, with Ethan Stewart coming on in the heart of defence and Owen Gallacher the other sub.

Gallacher was quick to get involved, carrying the ball half the length of the pitch as Forest launched a quick counter. But he took one touch too many just outside the penalty area and was robbed of possession.

Cardiff came close when a free kick from Meite took a big deflection. But Henderson was again alert to make a good save, getting across goal well to not only keep the ball out, but also hold on to it.

And it was Forest who took the lead in the 61st minute, as another probing attack forced a panicked clearance from Cardiff keeper, who could only clear to the edge of the box, where the Forest skipper controlled well, before side-stepping a defender and delivering a precise shot into the back of the net from 20 yards.

Nottingham Forest's Toby Edser celebrates making it 1-0 during the Professional Development League match at The City Ground on Monday 10th September 2018.

Forest were starting to take control of the game and Gomis almost made it 2-0 when he powered into the penalty area from the left, only to see his low shot well saved.

The striker was not about to let another chance go begging in the 68th minute, when he cut inside from the right, this time delivering a similar effort with just a little more power and precision, beating the keeper and finding the bottom corner in emphatic manner.

Gomis threatened again, with his pace and power a constant thorn in Cardiff’s side, even if they were able to guide him away from goal this time, at the expense of a corner.

Forest ended up playing against ten men for the final few minutes, with Ciaron Brown collecting an injury, at a time when they had used all their subs.

Nottingham Forest's Virgil Gomis celebrates making it 2-0 with Joe Coveney during the Professional Development League match at The City Ground on Monday 10th September 2018.

Fornah had a crack from more than 25 yards as Cardiff began to tire but, while he struck his shot very well, it dipped just the wrong side of the upright.